The Brazil Nuts is one of the healthiest, most nutritious nuts on the planet.
Native to South America, Brazil Nuts actually are not nuts, they’re seeds. They are a product of the Brazil nut tree, which is one of the largest trees in the world and can be found in the Amazon.
Brazil nuts are packed with nutrients, especially selenium. Selenium is a trace mineral that enhances antioxidant activity within the body. The strong antioxidant properties of Brazil nuts are what make them a very powerful, effective, anti-aging superfood.
10 Anti-Aging Benefits of Brazil Nuts:
1. Promote Radiant Skin
Brazil nuts promote radiant skin because they have very high levels of selenium, which increases cell turnover.
Cell turnover is the skin’s natural exfoliation, or renewal, process. During cell turnover, new skin cells are produced in the lowest layer of the epidermis. The cells then travel up through the epidermis until reaching the top, surface layer, where they slough off.
Side Note: These cells are commonly referred to “dead” skin cells.
For most young adults, the average rate for the cell to complete this process is 28 days. But, as the body gets older, the cell turnover rate decreases. This decrease can lead to an unnecessary build up of dead skin cells, which clogs pores and prevents important anti-aging ingredient, such as topical antioxidants, from penetrating the skin.
Brazil nuts are the #1 food source of selenium in the world and promote healthy, radiant, glowing skin and a brighter complexion.
2. Increase Elasticity
The high selenium content and powerful antioxidant effects of Brazil nuts protect and increase the skin’s elasticity.
Selenium stimulates the production of the enzymatic antioxidant known as glutathione, which has the ability to increase elasticity.
3. Reduce the Appearance of Fine Lines & Wrinkles
Brazil nuts contain tons of vital antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that help fight the signs of aging, including: selenium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, manganese, thiamin, vitamin E, zinc, calcium, potassium, and iron.
Just one serving of Brazil nuts a day provides the body with a substantial amount of anti-aging nutrients, which help to reduce and prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The powerful antioxidant effects of selenium stimulate and improve the production of two of the most important antioxidants: glutathione (the Master Antioxidant) and vitamin E.
Copper aids in the production of melanin, a color pigment that protects the body from harmful UV rays.
Zinc is a powerful antioxidant that is involved in over 3,000 bodily functions. It prevents oxidative damage caused by free radicals, reduces acne, reduces inflammation, boost the immune system, and has exceptional healing abilities. Zinc also helps to keep skin firm by maintaining collagen and elastin, which prevents sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Vitamin E is the most powerful fat soluble antioxidant and protects cells from oxidative damage, specially lipid peroxidation.
4. Powerful Antioxidants Fight Free Radicals
The high levels of antioxidants in Brazil nuts help to fight free radicals and prevent oxidative damage.
Selenium is the most prominent nutrient found in Brazil nuts and it has two very powerful antioxidant effects:
- Selenium serves as a cofactor for glutathione. Glutathione (AKA the Master Antioxidant due to it’s amazing free radical fighting abilities), is more than 5,000 times stronger than any other antioxidant. Selenium increasing the production of glutathione. This means that selenium f*cking amazing.
- Selenium improves the functions of Vitamin E, one of the most powerful antioxidants. Brazil nuts contain very high levels of Vitamin E, which protects cell membranes from lipid peroxidation by fighting the lipid radicals. It also protects cells from photoaging (damage caused by UV rays).
Other important nutrients with exceptional antioxidant properties are zinc and copper, both of which are found in Brazil nuts.
The antioxidant properties of zinc help to fight free radicals caused by inflammation and harmful UV rays.
Fun Fact: This is why any reputable sunscreen product will contain “zinc oxide.”
Copper, an essential trace mineral, serves as a cofactor for superoxide dismutase. Like glutathione, superoxide dismutase is another very important enzymatic antioxidant. It disarms free radicals caused by harmful UV rays and protects mitochondria from oxidative damage. Ultimately, copper helps prevent age spots (caused by the sun) and wrinkles.
5. Promote Collagen Production
Due to their high copper content, Brazil nuts promote collagen production, which is super important for maintaining a youthful appearance.
Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the human body. It’s responsible for maintaining firmness, suppleness, and resiliency of the skin.
The only way to prevent new wrinkles from forming and tighten existing ones is through the stimulation and restoration of collagen synthesis (producing and repairing collagen). In order for this to happen, the body requires the presence of the enzyme, lysyl oxidase. Copper, a trace mineral, helps to regulate the function of lysyl oxidase. This means that copper is super important for anti-aging.
Brazil nuts are an excellent source copper. One serving contains 0.5 milligrams, which is 25% of the recommended daily intake.
6. Reduce & Prevent Acne
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Brazil nuts make them very effective at reducing and preventing acne.
The skin is the body’s first line of defense against external elements, such as pollution, UV rays, toxins, and the chemicals in cosmetics, etc.
Upon contact with the skin, these external elements react with sebum, the oil naturally produced by the skin, causing it to oxidize. When this happens,sebum production increases and causes blocked pores and inflammation (AKA acne).
Brazil nuts are packed with two very important acne fighting nutrients: selenium and zinc.
These two trace minerals have very strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to reduce clogged pores and calm red, irritated skin.
Selenium serves as a cofactor for the Master Antioxidant, glutathione. Glutathione has the ability to regenerate previously used antioxidants, such as vitamin E, the most important fat soluble antioxidant. Ultimately, selenium is acne’s worst nightmare. Selenium also has excellent antibacterial properties to help fight off acne causing bacteria.
7. Promote Healing
Brazil nuts promote the skin’s abilities to heal and rejuvenate because they’re an excellent source of zinc.
Zinc promotes skin healing (wounds & cuts) by protecting against infection and regulating inflammation. Zinc also produces new cells and transports them to the injured skin, allowing for the wound or cut to close up.
8. Prevent & Relieve Dry Skin
Brazil nuts are packed with lipid nutrients, which help to prevent and relieve dry, flaky skin.
Lipids make up approximately 50% of cell membranes. They are responsible for regulating cell membranes by retaining water and nutrients, and removing waste. As the body ages, the epidermis starts to thin and the natural ability to retain moisture within cells decreases, which leads to dry skin.
Brazil nuts contain substantial amount of vitamin E, a lipid nutrient and powerful antioxidant. Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin that has been proven to hydrate skin, increase moisture retention, and smooth wrinkles. Vitamin E also provides mild protection against harmful UV rays.
Brazil nuts also contain essential fatty acids, including Alphalinoleic Acid (Omega-3 fatty acids) and Linoleic Acid (Omega-6 fatty acids).
Both are very important for maintaining healthy, hydrated skin. The body is unable to produce essential fatty acids, so it’s absolutely critical to obtain them from dietary sources, each and every day.
Essential fatty acids increase the strength of cell walls, which helps to retain moisture. This promotes more supple, plump, hydrated skin, and helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to moisturizing skin, essential fatty acids have exceptional anti-inflammatory properties, help fight free radicals, and provide protection against damaging UV rays.
Brazil nuts contain impressive amounts of both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
9. Stimulate DNA Repair in Damaged Cells
Brazil nuts are very high in zinc, a very important trace mineral that promotes healing.
Zinc contains over 3,000 essentials proteins. These proteins promote cellular health by stimulating DNA repair in cells that have been damaged by free radicals. Due to zinc’s healing abilities, it’s also helps prevent and relieve dry skin.
The antioxidant properties of zinc make it a strong fighter against free radicals and oxidative damage caused by inflammation and harmful UV rays. Zinc also plays an important role in strengthening the immune system.
10. Fight Inflammation
Thanks to their high selenium content, Brazil nuts are great for reducing excess inflammation throughout the body.
Inflammation is one of the main underlying contributors to aging.
Inflammation is the body’s healing response and can be categorized as either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation isn’t a big deal. Think of skin wound, which is accompanied by redness, heat, swelling – all symptoms of acute inflammation. Chronic inflammation is the body’s response to excessive free radicals, or oxidative stress. The presence of chronic inflammation causes more free radicals to be produced, which ignites a vicious cycle that leads to cellular damage and aging.
Brazil nuts contain a ridiculously high amount of selenium, and selenium contains ellagic acid.
Ellagic acid, a polyphenol found in fruit and nuts, and selenium, a trace mineral found in soil, both have exceptional anti-inflammatory properties and work to combat inflammation in the body.
How to Add Brazil Nuts to Your Diet
Brazil nuts are one of the healthiest foods in the world. However, due to their extremely high selenium content, Brazil nuts must be eaten in moderation.
Although selenium is a very important trace mineral with amazing antioxidant effects, the body only requires a very small amount of it. Too much selenium can be toxic to the body and result in various health complications.
The recommended daily intake of selenium is 45 mcg for children, and 400 mcg for adult. Brazil nuts are packed with nutrition and can greatly help to prevent and reduce the signs of aging, but the body only needs a few (2-4) a day to reap the benefits.
My personal favorites are: NOW Foods’ Brazil Nuts. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE.